HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention

HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention

As parents, you do everything you can to protect your children’s health for now and for the future. Today, there is a strong weapon to prevent several types of cancer in our kids: the HPV vaccine.

HPV is short for Human Papillomavirus, a common virus. In the United States each year, there are about 17,000 women and 9,000 men affected by HPV-related cancers. Many of these cancers could be prevented with vaccination. HPV vaccination is recommended for preteen girls and boys at age 11 or 12 years.

Why does my child need this now?

HPV vaccines offer the best protection to girls and boys who receive all three vaccine doses and have time to develop an immune response before they begin sexual activity with another person, and this could mean better protection for your child. Research has shown that getting the HPV vaccine does not make kids more likely to be sexually active or start having sex at a younger age. Girls and boys are vaccinated well before they are exposed to an infection, as is the case with measles and the other recommended childhood vaccines. Similarly, it’s important to vaccinate children well before they get exposed to HPV.

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